On January 25 1953 , under the chairmanship of Bill MacMurtrie the Tartan Ball was born. The first ball was held in the Cauley Auditorium which was upstairs of what is now the WSEE TV Studio. Chairs lined the perimeter of the hall and a single piper and two highland dancers from St. Catharines were the entertainment along with the Erepa Grotto Glee Club and of course the Erepa Grotto Kiltie Band. Dance music was provided by the Wm. Bill Thompson Trio.

The following year due to the popularity and anticipated crowd, the ball was moved to Rainbow Gardens. The St. Catharines Pipe Band and Gene Parlette's Orchestra provided the entertainment . The groundwork was laid, the format established, and the Tartan Ball became one of the longest running and most successful social events in the Erie area.